MoDOT celebrates 20 years of helping stranded drivers

For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, MoDOT employs people to drive the 200 miles of state roads in the St. Louis area, looking for drivers to help in the case of an emergency.

“We’re out there to help the public,” said Holly Snodgrass, a MoDOT Motorist Assistant based out of North St. Louis County. “[We are here to help] those who are stranded on the side of the road, anything impeding traffic we respond to just to help expedite traffic, keep it moving, keep emergency personnel safe and keep the public safe.”

Snodgrass and the other 20-plus Motor Assistants will have their work showcased during an open house at the Motorist Assist station at 669 Salt Mill Road in Chesterfield from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event was set up to give drivers a chance to personally thank the assistants who have helped them in times of need and to highlight the 20th anniversary of the program.

According to MoDOT statistics, the program handled 37,000 incidents in 2012. There were over 8,000 abandoned vehicles, over 7,700 mechanical repairs and 5,500 tire changes the operators helped during those 12 months.